Victoria Memorial Hall

The
Victoria Memorial was built to commemorate the peak of the British
Empire in India. The Victoria Memorial, conceived by Lord Curzon,
represents the architectural climax of
Kolkata city. Lord
Curzon, the then Viceroy specified its classical style but the actual
plan of Victoria Memorial was laid down by the well-known architect, Sir
William Emerson. The Victoria Memorial blends the best of the British
and Mughal architecture. The Victoria Memorial hall was built with white
Makrana marbles. The Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone of
Victoria Memorial in 1906 and it was inaugurated in 1921 in memory of
Queen Victoria. The Victoria Memorial is 338 by 228 feet and a height of
184 feet.

Today the Victoria Memorial Hall is a museum having an assortment of
Victoria memorabilia, British Raj paintings and other displays. As night
descends on Calcutta, the Victoria Memorial Hall is illuminated, giving
it a fairy tale look. It is interesting to note that the Victoria
Memorial was built without British government funds. The money required
for the construction of the stately building, surrounded by beautiful
gardens over 64 acres and costing more than 10 million was contributed
by British Indian states and individuals who wanted favors with the
British government. At the top of the Victoria Memorial is a sixteen
foot tall bronze statue of victory, mounted on ball bearings. It rotates
with wind.

At present the Victoria Memorial has notable collection of weapons,
sculptors, paintings, maps, coins, stamps, artifacts, textiles etc. The
Royal gallery in Victoria Memorial has portraits of the Queen and Prince
Albert. There are numerous paintings, illustrating events from
Victoria's life. Another remarkable peace in Victoria Memorial is a
painting by the Russian artist Vasseli Verestchagin, portraying the
state entry of the Prince of Wales in Jaipur in the year 1876. In the
post independence period a new addition was made to the Victoria
Memorial. It was the addition of the National leaders' gallery with the
portraits and relics of the freedom fighters.